ClearEdge
Marketing, Harvey
Nash and McCann
Partners today announced the launch of ARA Chicago, a group
committed to supporting women in technology by helping Attract, Retain
and Advance women in the traditionally male-driven field. ARA's goal is
to provide up-and-coming women in IT with career support and mentoring.
In partnership with the Illinois
Technology Association (ITA (News - Alert)), ARA will host four Chicago-based
events annually beginning in April 2013.

Harvey Nash Managing Director and Vice President Jane Gilligan, McCann
Partners President and Founder Megan McCann, and ClearEdge Marketing CEO
and Founder Leslie Vickrey decided to form ARA based on the success of
the Chicago Executive Women's Networking Group, which they founded more
than eight years ago. The group, which began as a quarterly dinner with
three leaders in technology, has grown into a network of more than 150
women in the technology industry across Chicago and a partnership with
the ITA, providing additional value to its membership base and
supporting its focus on talent-driven programs.

"We wanted to offer a more formal process for supporting and mentoring
women in technology," said McCann. "We are committed to helping bridge
the talent and gender gaps in the technology industry by helping
companies attract, retain and advance women in IT."

Addressing a Significant Need in IT

According to the Harvey
Nash CIO Survey of 450 IT leaders surveyed in the U.S., only 9
percent are female compared to only 7 percent globally. This represents
a decline three years running in the U.S. from 12 percent in 2010 and 11
percent in 2011 and 9 percent in 2012. Almost a third of respondents
said their IT organization has no women at all in management. Moreover,
56 percent of respondents indicated a technology skills shortage would
prevent teir organization from keeping up with the pace of change.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of ARA Chicago, which will deliver much
needed services to women in our industry," commented Ellen Barry,
principal of the EBarry Group and former CIO of the City of Chicago's
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority. "As women in technology, we
must focus on mentoring and championing other women in all phases of
their careers and lives."

The first ARA meeting - a speed networking event at which mentees will
be matched with CIO mentors - will take place on Thursday, April 4 at
5:30 pm at the ITA offices, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor, Chicago.
For more information about the program, please email ara@clearedgemarketing.com.

Harvey Nash USA is the U.S. division of the Harvey Nash Group, a global
professional recruitment firm and IT outsourcing service provider traded
on the London Stock Exchange since 1997. Around the world, Harvey Nash
is committed to delivering talent and IT solutions to a broad base of
clients. The Group is a trusted advisor to some of the world's leading
businesses. Operating from more than 40 offices in the USA, Europe and
Asia, Harvey Nash professionals pursue integrity and quality in
providing a unique portfolio of services: executive search, IT
professional services and IT staffing. To learn more, please visit www.harveynashusa.com.
Follow Harvey Nash on Twitter at www.twitter.com/harveynashusa
and view Harvey Nash's Facebook profile at www.facebook.com/HarveyNashUSA.

About McCann Partners

McCann Partners is a Chicago-based IT recruitment firm committed to
providing businesses with highly customized talent solutions. Led by a
team of recruitment and technology experts who have a combined 50 years
of industry experience, McCann Partners offers a comprehensive range of
IT recruitment services that includes recruitment process outsourcing,
co-sourcing/sourcing, training and contract/contract-to-hire staffing.
McCann Partners is the pioneer of a unique and highly effective
assimilation process, which integrates teams deep into client businesses
in order to provide truly collaborative, customized and results-driven
recruitment solutions. To learn more, visit www.mccannpartners.com.
Follow McCann Partners on Twitter at www.twitter.com/McCannPartners
and Facebook at www.facebook.com/McCannPartners.